I always feel bad when I’m reviewing résumés and come across an applicant who self-eliminates with a stupid mistake. I feel bad because I long ago decided it isn’t my job to teach someone to read what they write before sticking it in the mail.

Today’s example was a chap who appeared to be a pretty good fit for a job we have open (see description below if you are someone interested in joining a really good PR firm that demands excellence of itself to provide excellent service to excellent clients). However, he sent a cover letter along with his résumé and some writing samples in which he clearly had cut and pasted a paragraph from another cover letter he’s using in his job search.

His opening paragraph was OK: “I am writing to express my interest in the position of Communication Specialist with Curley & Pynn. As a communications professional with over a decade of experience reaching out to the public I know what it takes to get people talking.”

But two paragraphs down things went south: “I will love to be able to bring my assets to The Florida Bar Foundation as your next Marketing Coordinator and Social Media Coordinator. I am excited about this opportunity and welcome the opportunity to discuss with you my credentials. Please contact me to arrange an interview. I look forward to meeting you and thank you for your consideration.”

No … the boldface and underlines were not his, but added for emphasis. I just wanted to make sure you saw it. I let slide that this guy actually said, “I will love to be able to …” Lord, this guy has a college degree! Albeit, from an online school I’ve never heard of before. He positions himself as a “Seasoned bilingual communications professional experienced in network, cable and local news, with both English-language and Spanish-language speaking audiences.”

Now … to the real reason I wrote this post. We’re looking for good talent. Please see below, email us or pass the word. Extra points to those that get our name right.

It’s time to stop “working” and start getting paid to do what you love. At Curley & Pynn – The Strategic Firm®, our award-winning team of creative thinkers is excited to offer you this opportunity. As a communications specialist, you can do big things in an environment that will challenge you to contribute 100 percent every day, while empowering you to succeed.

Our specialists play a critical role in the implementation of communications strategies for clients from varied industries. No two days are the same at Curley & Pynn, but there are several things you can expect to do:

Research, research, research. It’s the bedrock of every communications plan.

Write compelling stories about our clients, their products and services for news releases, blogs, social media posts and more.

Publicize those stories by pitching them to news media, developing eye-catching collateral, planning and executing events, and more.

Brainstorm new and innovative ideas that bring our strategies to life.

What you need:

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism or a related field.

Overwhelming desire to grow your career.

Writing skills stronger than the Hulk.

Annoying obsession with details.

No fear to call a reporter, get rejected and call again.

Confidence to raise your hand and take responsibility for new projects.

Penchant for to-do lists and ability to juggle.

Ideally, you’ve had some on-the-job experience and are ready for the next step in your career. Solid internships and a high level of maturity go a long way, too. Experience with graphic design and digital marketing will earn you bonus points.

What we have:

Experienced, friendly and enthusiastic mentors who will always have your back and are invested in helping you grow.

Long-standing relationships with some of Florida’s most well-respected organizations, including globally recognized brands.

Generous benefits: a competitive salary, health benefits, three weeks of paid vacation time, financial support for professional development activities and reimbursement for continuing education.

When and why did that rhyme I learned as a child warp into “sticks and stones should break the bones of those whose words might hurt me?”

A new study by The Brookings Institution shows that of 1,500 college students surveyed nationwide, an astounding 19 percent believe that violence – physical violence – is an appropriate response to prevent a controversial speaker from speaking. Let that sink in. One in five attending college in a country that is in many ways defined by its protection of speech believe that mere words should be met, and stopped, with violence.

A majority believe it is appropriate to stop hateful speech by shouting it down so the speaker cannot be heard, and a plurality believe that hate speech is NOT protected by the First Amendment.

How did we reach a point at which young people believe the response to speech with which they disagree is to force it to stop, with violence if necessary?

One of the things taught to me as a child, and reinforced in college, was that First Amendment protections are not extended only to those with “acceptable” viewpoints, but more importantly to those with whom we strongly disagree.

I realize times have changed and we live in a charged political environment, but I remember the conversations I had with friends and family as a young man, conversations in which we discussed the need to protect hateful speech, because doing so defines who we are and what makes us different. Our willingness to tolerate hateful, horrible words is what sets us apart. I can only hope we find our way back to having those kinds of conversations.

As communicators, it is our job to protect and preserve First Amendment rights, and to ensure that the next generation understands these rights. As a father, I want my children to be confronted with ideas and language they find disagreeable and even hurtful. I want them to seek out this language. And I want them to respond not with violence or shouts, but with better arguments.

The way to confront hateful speech is not sticks and stones. We can only defeat hateful speech with reason, with conversation, with more speech.

Filed under: Dan Ward, Miscellany Tagged: first amendment, hateful speech, Orlando Public Relations, sticks and stones, The Brookings Institution, violence]]>by Dan Ward “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” When and why did that rhyme I learned as a child warp into “sticks and stones should break the bones of those whose words might hurt me?” A new study by The Brookings Institution shows that of 1,500 college [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5343&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/09/21/sticks-and-stones/feed/2Curley & PynnDan WardMistaken Identityhttps://taking-aim.com/2017/08/23/mistaken-identity/Dan WardMiscellanyCharlottesvilleConfederate GeneralcontroversyESPNOrlando Public RelationsRobert LeeUniversity of VirginiaTheStrategicFirmWed, 23 Aug 2017 11:11:25 PDThttp://taking-aim.com/?p=5336

The broadcaster was pulled from the ESPN assignment “simply because of the coincidence of his name.”

Given his Chinese heritage, few would confuse ESPN’s Robert Lee with the Confederate General who died nearly 150 years ago. But rather than trust in the intelligence of its viewers, ESPN pulled Lee from the game. To avoid what may have caused a few moments of discomfort, ESPN touched on a controversy that has it and its communications team on their heels.

In the wake of Charlottesville, we should certainly remind ourselves that what we say matters, that we should think before we speak, and that we should be mindful of the impact of our words.

But avoiding conversation is not the answer. ESPN says it regrets that “who calls play by play for a football game has become an issue.” They should regret making it an issue.

Filed under: Dan Ward, Miscellany Tagged: Charlottesville, Confederate General, controversy, ESPN, Orlando Public Relations, Robert Lee, University of Virginia]]>by Dan Ward Have we lost our ever-loving minds? When I first read that ESPN pulled a broadcaster from covering an upcoming University of Virginia football game in a decision tied to the events in Charlottesville, my reaction was “he must have said something horrible.” Nope. He didn’t say anything. The broadcaster was pulled from [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5336&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/08/23/mistaken-identity/feed/0Curley & PynnDan WardFaith’s Farewellhttps://taking-aim.com/2017/08/18/faiths-farewell/Industry MusingsKacie EscobaradultingAsk QUestionsCurley & Pynn Internship ProgramInternsInternship programsOrlando Public RelationsPR IndustryTheStrategicFirmFri, 18 Aug 2017 08:45:52 PDThttp://taking-aim.com/?p=5328

Curley & Pynn was fortunate to be joined this summer by intern, Faith Fogarty, a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi who “wowed” us with her positive attitude and work ethic. Read on for Faith’s account of her internship experience.

I had interned at several other places before joining the team at Curley & Pynn. As I prepared for my first day, I woke up and found the most comfortable shoes I owned. I was ready to run errands, clean and do other “intern work.” Little did I know, my experience at Curley & Pynn was going to be so much more.

I was assigned a writing project right off the bat.

“Woah,” I said to myself. “No one needs coffee or anything from Office Depot???”

On top of providing public relations counsel and marketing communications to several clients, Curley & Pynn puts in plenty of valuable time helping others succeed and grow in this profession.

Being an intern can be overwhelming, especially in an agency where something new is always happening.

One of the most important things I learned this summer was to simply ask questions. Ask once, ask twice or as many times as you’d like, but don’t be afraid to just ask questions. I’m sure there were times when I asked a million follow-up questions, but the team never hesitated to answer them. I was a sponge, soaking up all the information I possibly could.

I learned another important aspect of “adulting” as well: time management. I give a great deal of credit to the team at Curley & Pynn because, as I quickly learned, working in an agency environment, having good time-management skills is the key to being successful. Bouncing from one project to another on completely different subjects and with multiple clients, you must be able to manage time effectively. Learning this hasn’t only helped me in the PR field, but in everyday life as well. To-do lists are my new best friend.

I strongly recommend the internship program at Curley & Pynn to every college student or recent graduate looking for more experience in the PR industry. The Curley & Pynn internship program isn’t like most and that’s what I loved about it.

I could write a novel about the valuable experience, connections and knowledge I gained these past couple of months, but I know the work samples I’ve assembled prove it best. I couldn’t be more grateful for the time and effort this team puts in to creating better PR professionals.

Filed under: Industry Musings, Kacie Escobar Tagged: adulting, Ask QUestions, Curley & Pynn Internship Program, Interns, Internship programs, Orlando Public Relations, PR Industry]]>by Kacie Escobar Curley &#38; Pynn was fortunate to be joined this summer by intern, Faith Fogarty, a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi who “wowed” us with her positive attitude and work ethic. Read on for Faith’s account of her internship experience. I had interned at several other places before joining the team [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5328&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/08/18/faiths-farewell/feed/0Curley & PynnKacie EscobarCharlie Needs PR People … Not Salespeoplehttps://taking-aim.com/2017/08/09/charlie-needs-pr-people-not-salespeople/Industry MusingsKacie EscobarCharlieFPRA Annual ConferenceOrlando Public RelationsSales tacticsSales TipsTheStrategicFirmWed, 09 Aug 2017 13:40:16 PDThttp://taking-aim.com/?p=5324

Today, I received an email encouraging me to apply for a role with the Charlie team in Chicago as a key salesperson for the company’s new product. Seemingly innocent, everything about this email rubbed me the wrong way.

Having just returned from the 2017 FPRA Annual Conference, PR: It’s Personal, the power of personalized communication was fresh in my mind. And this email was anything but personal.

Ironically, Charlie’s success is built on technology that “finds information from 100,000’s of sources” to build one-page profiles about your professional contacts, helping you get to know them without doing all the work.

Perhaps Charlie should have put its technology to the test.

I once researched the Charlie app, but never used it. In fact, I had not received any previous emails from Charlie since the day I signed up nearly one year ago. Simple research would have uncovered my lack of engagement and unfamiliarity with the company, along with my lack of experience (or interest) for a senior account executive role in sales.

The advertised position has enough responsibility that it reports directly to the CEO, yet Charlie clearly used an email distribution service to spam everyone on its list without any knowledge of the recipients’ qualifications. The kicker: it was sent to the inbox of the email address where I currently work, which, for others, might have sparked an awkward office conversation.

While Charlie’s tactic may eventually achieve the desired outcome, the company could have taken a far more effective approach. A little research would have gone a long way to personalize this outreach and, as a result, reach the right target audience with the right message in the right place at the right time.

Before it can recruit the right salespeople, Charlie may want to consider recruiting someone to drive a more personalized approach to its PR.

Filed under: Industry Musings, Kacie Escobar Tagged: Charlie, FPRA Annual Conference, Orlando Public Relations, Sales tactics, Sales Tips]]>by Kacie Escobar Today, I received an email encouraging me to apply for a role with the Charlie team in Chicago as a key salesperson for the company’s new product. Seemingly innocent, everything about this email rubbed me the wrong way. Having just returned from the 2017 FPRA Annual Conference, PR: It’s Personal, the power [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5324&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/08/09/charlie-needs-pr-people-not-salespeople/feed/0Curley & PynnKacie EscobarHmmm …https://taking-aim.com/2017/06/20/hmmm/Roger PynnUncategorizedCheryl ConnerForbesStartupTheStrategicFirmTue, 20 Jun 2017 14:25:55 PDThttp://taking-aim.com/?p=5319

On the surface, it mirrors our longtime practice of trying to avoid taking on startups as clients. It is so hard to meet the expectations of someone who is caught up in the euphoria of creating a “new baby” … and you feel like telling them they really ought to be putting that money away for the kid’s college education.

Our firm thrives mostly in that space beyond startup. In fact, I often marvel at our good fortune to represent some of America’s finest brands. But that doesn’t mean we cannot help a small startup organization. It only requires a great deal of candor going into the relationship to establish realistic expectations of budget vs. output and outcomes.

What I know that @CherylSnapp and I do agree on is that if you are shopping for an agency you need to make sure you will have a relationship with its leaders long after the ink is dry on your agreement. For more than 30 years we have insisted on a “partner on every account” rule and the client must agree that part of the fee goes toward our involvement.

I’ve always believed that’s one of the reasons why we have so many long, long, longstanding clients.

Filed under: Roger Pynn, Uncategorized Tagged: Cheryl Conner, Forbes, Startup]]>by Roger Pynn &#160; I’m not sure how I feel about this Forbes article by Cheryl Conner, with whom I so often agree. On the surface, it mirrors our longtime practice of trying to avoid taking on startups as clients. It is so hard to meet the expectations of someone who is caught up in [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5319&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/06/20/hmmm/feed/0Curley & PynnRoger PynnNever Say Neverhttps://taking-aim.com/2017/06/02/never-say-never/MiscellanyRoger PynnAge of TechnologyBritish AirwaysMessagingOrlando Public Relationstargeted communicationTargeted Messagestechnology glitchesTheStrategicFirmFri, 02 Jun 2017 07:56:23 PDThttp://taking-aim.com/?p=5316

“Once the disruption is over, we will carry out an exhaustive investigation into what caused this incident, and take measures to ensure it never happens again,” BA CEO Alex Cruz said.

Those advising Cruz on messaging should have known better and that in an industry that has been taking so many hits, erring on the side of caution is the best rule. Just as you can’t be sure you won’t have an unruly passenger or turbulent weather, you can’t promise technology won’t fail.

So what makes sense in a case like this when the pressure is on? Perhaps you advise your executive to acknowledge that “in today’s technology dependent world we all know the potential for glitches, but it behooves us to investigate this situation exhaustively and do everything in our power to find solutions and redundant protection for the future. We truly apologize and appreciate the patience of all those who were inconvenienced.”

Filed under: Miscellany, Roger Pynn Tagged: Age of Technology, British Airways, Messaging, Orlando Public Relations, targeted communication, Targeted Messages, technology glitches]]>by Roger Pynn We can all hope that British Airways never again has an IT failure like the one that stranded thousands of passengers over the weekend, and while it may be a laudable objective, saying you plan to never let something terrible happen again is an all-in bet you might not want to make. [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5316&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/06/02/never-say-never/feed/0Curley & PynnRoger PynnIt is Still “WIFM?”https://taking-aim.com/2017/05/10/it-is-still-wifm/MiscellanyRoger PynnBrand MarketingBrandingOrlando Public RelationsWhat's in it for meWIFMTheStrategicFirmWed, 10 May 2017 08:03:35 PDThttp://taking-aim.com/?p=5314

I’ve written before about my disdain for the term “branding.” Branding is only a verb if you are a cow, and yet people are still hanging on like rodeo cowboys to the claim that what they do is branding.

Bayne writes “Today, people are not loyal to brands, they are loyal to their needs.”

That is absolutely true. Companies (brands) trying to earn consumer loyalty need to stay attuned and true to customer needs.

The urge to put your brand on every message is understandable, but if you “brand” everything you’re missing the point. Once you have the ear of your customers, focus on them, not yourself. They want to know what’s in it for them.

Filed under: Miscellany, Roger Pynn Tagged: Brand Marketing, Branding, Orlando Public Relations, What's in it for me, WIFM]]>by Roger Pynn Kudos to McKay Advertising’s Christian Bayne for this post titled Brand Marketing is BS. I’ve written before about my disdain for the term “branding.” Branding is only a verb if you are a cow, and yet people are still hanging on like rodeo cowboys to the claim that what they do is [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5314&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/05/10/it-is-still-wifm/feed/0Curley & PynnRoger PynnCitizen Journalists Are Always Ready – Are You?https://taking-aim.com/2017/05/05/citizen-journalists-are-always-ready-are-you/Dan WardMiscellanyCitizen JournalismCitizen Journalistcompany spokespersonMessage MatrixMessage TrainingOrlando Public RelationsUnited AirlinesTheStrategicFirmFri, 05 May 2017 12:25:16 PDThttp://taking-aim.com/?p=5312

There’s blood in the water, and “citizen journalists” at airports around the country are at the ready to report on any misstep.

What happens when they leave the airport and point their cameras at your company?

Many organizations “media train” their corporate spokespersons and C-Suite executives (we prefer to call it message training, because the process works beyond the traditional media interview). But how many are training their front-line staff, the people who interact with customers on a daily basis, and whose comments and actions will be recorded by citizen journalists as soon as anything goes wrong?

Front-line staff need to know that they work in an environment in which every action they take may be recorded and reported. They need to understand how to communicate the company’s key message with every customer they meet, in the knowledge that their interactions may be published on a blog or podcast. They need to understand that their actions and comments could mean the difference between a happy customer and a viral video that will cost revenue and jobs.

Are your employees ready?

Filed under: Dan Ward, Miscellany Tagged: Citizen Journalism, Citizen Journalist, company spokesperson, Message Matrix, Message Training, Orlando Public Relations, United Airlines]]>by Dan Ward In the aftermath of the United Airlines “re-accommodating” incident, we’ve seen more headlines about airlines acting badly, usually accompanied by grainy cellphone video shot by concerned passengers. There’s blood in the water, and “citizen journalists” at airports around the country are at the ready to report on any misstep. What happens when [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5312&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/05/05/citizen-journalists-are-always-ready-are-you/feed/0Curley & PynnDan WardThis is Not a PR Gaffe.https://taking-aim.com/2017/04/13/this-is-not-a-pr-gaffe/MiscellanyRoger PynnBloombergManagement ProblemsOrlando Public RelationsOrlando SentinelPR ProblemsUnited AirlinesTheStrategicFirmThu, 13 Apr 2017 13:02:15 PDThttp://taking-aim.com/?p=5308

“When it comes to bad public relations, it’s pretty tough to top the sight of a United Airlines passenger being dragged, bloodied and screaming, from a flight.”

It went on to say:

“But the fiasco is hardly the first self-inflicted corporate blunder. Munoz can take comfort that it’s happened to others, and in many cases the bosses didn’t lose their jobs, as our PR Tales From Hell illustrate.”

Here’s the problem. This isn’t a PR problem. It is a management problem that caused public relations problems. And it is a classic example of management failing to empower smart decision-making on the front lines. When the people who engage with the public have to make decisions because of what the operations manual says instead of being empowered to make common sense decisions in the face of trouble, disaster is around the corner.

There were so many options … if only the gate staff had been trained to think for themselves. I’m sure the folks in United’s public relations organizations would tell you the same thing.

Filed under: Miscellany, Roger Pynn Tagged: Bloomberg, Management Problems, Orlando Public Relations, Orlando Sentinel, PR Problems, United Airlines]]>by Roger Pynn I knew I’d see the headline sooner or later: 6 other PR Nightmares: United fiasco among worst corporate gaffes The Bloomberg story in the Orlando Sentinel said: “When it comes to bad public relations, it&#8217;s pretty tough to top the sight of a United Airlines passenger being dragged, bloodied and screaming, from [&#8230;]<img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=taking-aim.com&#038;blog=4013142&#038;post=5308&#038;subd=thestrategicfirm&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />https://taking-aim.com/2017/04/13/this-is-not-a-pr-gaffe/feed/2Curley & PynnRoger Pynn